with
us."

"I see no occasion for that," replied the commandant; "what, sir, may
you have to say?"

"Do you know who you have in your company when you speak to that
one-eyed deformity?"

"A Dutch sailor, I presume."

"No--a spirit--a demon--who occasioned the loss of the vessel; and who
brings misfortune wherever he appears."

"Holy Virgin! what do you tell me, signor?"

"The fact, Signor Commandant. We are obliged to you for confining us
here, while he is in the fort; but beware for yourself."

"You are laughing at me."

"I am not; bring him down here. This noble gentleman has power over
him. I wonder, indeed, at his daring to stay while he is so near; he
has on his heart that which will send him trembling away. Bring him
down here, and you shall at once see him vanish with curses and
screams."

"Heaven defend us!" cried the commandant, terrified.

"Send for him now, signor."

"He is gone--vanished--not to be found!"

"I thought as much," replied Philip, significantly.

"He is gone--vanished--you say. Then, commandant, you will probably
apologise to this noble gentleman for your treatment of him, and permit
us to return to our former apartments. I will there explain to you this
most strange and interesting history."

The commandant, more confused than ever, hardly knew how to act. At
last he bowed to Philip, and begged that he would consider himself at
liberty; "and," continued he to Krantz, "I shall be most happy at an
immediate explanation of this affair, for everything appears so
contradictory."

"And must, until it is explained. I will follow you into your own room;
a courtesy you must not expect from my noble friend, who is not a little
indignant at your treatment of him."

The commandant went out, leaving the door open. Philip and Krantz
followed: the former retiring to his own apartment; the latter, bending
his steps after the commandant to his sitting-room. The confusion which
whirled in the brain of the commandant made him appear most ridiculous.
He hardly knew whether to be imperative or civil; whether he was really
speaking to the first mate of the vessel, or to another party; or
whether he had insulted a noble, or been cajoled by a captain of a
vessel: he threw himself down on his sofa, and Krantz, taking his seat
in a chair, stated as follows:--

"You have been partly deceived and partly not, commandant. When we
first came here, not knowing what treatment we might receive